Method of and apparatus for atomizing and burning fuel oil



May 11 1926. A D 1,583,995

E. A. REID METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR` ATOMIZING AND BURNING FUEL OIL Filed 001'.. 22. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l 23 w uw Y /j/l /f/ bility-M y A ///H f1/1111151 N n 9 Lw-H1. /l/N TOR Y 1x1/M! 7g ATTORNEY May l1 1926.

- E. A. REID lMETHOD oF AND APPARATUS Foa Afromzme AND BURNING FUEL on,

Filed Oct. 22. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvg/)fron lfatented ltfiia'y l1, lllti.

stares rasa Fries.

nnNns'r ANDREW nnrn, or LoNDoN, ENGLAND.

Mn'rnon' or AND Arran-aros Non ArorrIziNe AND BURNING FUEL OIL.

Application filed October 22, 1924. Serial No. 745,061.

This invention Y relates to improvements in horizontal fuel oil burners of the type dcscribed in my United States .la-tent No. LMS,-

granted December 18, 1923 for method of and apparatus for atomizing and burning` fuel oil; in British PatentNo. 180,202 of 1922; and in Canadian Patent No. 225,787 of December' 5, 1922; and in a number of other patents issued in various countries for the subject matter of saidUnited States Patent No. intense.

In the burner shown in such earlier patents and also according to the present invention, the fuel oil isdistributed inthe form of a lilm which falls o 'for a transverse lip as a thin curtain, in front of a plurality of converging jets of atomizing fluid under pressure, the oil film -or curtain extending theoretically and generally vin practice, the Whole transverse Width of the burner lip.

An. advantage of said patented burners and of the present improved burner is that, owing to the fact that the velocity of the atomizing fiuid is minimized by the impinging of one jet on the other, and further by the dropping of the film of fuel oil on the point of collision of the ets dripping of oil is pre-v vented. The atomized mixture of fiuid and fuel or combustible product enters a furnace on which the burner isV in-l stalled with a very low velocity, providing thereby the necessary element of time for a thorough and early admixture of the necessary oxygen to insure immediate and perfect combustion of the atomized fuel to CO2 with the result that a short and intense, Well distributed and even flame is produced. rl`he time element Which this burner introduces is one of the features characterizing the Working of this burner. It is found inrpractice that practically smokeless combustion is produced, if the fuel oil and atomizing fluid supply are correctly adjusted.

It has been found in actual practice that With burners provided with the atomizing jets with their axes of impingement in a vertical plane instead of in the horizontal plane a continuous curtain of atomizing fluid is formed. This is owing to the fact that the zone of dispersed atomization, due to each pair of jets, is at right angles to their aires of impingement, the dispersion zone formed by one pair overlapping that produced by the neighboring pair of jets, and forming thereby a complete and continuous zone of dispersed atomization which does'not permit the dropping through the zone vof dispersed atomization of the oil. lf this occurred, it would cause trouble in operation by the oil dropping` on to the floor of the furnace and carbonizing there. ln order to effect this action, it will be noted that with jets impinging with their axes horizontally, the zones of dispersion will be vertical, and it is practically inevitable that in this Way intersticeswvill be formed between adjacent zones of dispersion and fuel will be apt to drop through. rlhe complete and satisfactory combustion of the fuel oil in a burner with the atomizing jets, located one above the other and with their axes of impingement vertical, is further assured by the construction given to the lower edge of the llip of the burner which is formed with an ire regular edge, so that the oil, due to its viscosity and surface tension produced, maintains a film of practically even thickness the whole Width of the burner, insuring there= by the even Working of the atomizing fluid and the production of entirely even and well dispersed flame; securing also a uniform distribution of heat in the boiler or furnace or -arise fromvthe movement of the vessel, this invention provides for the ultimatemainte nace of the burner in its cirect 'position in the center of the boiler furnace front and the film of oil is also'm'aintained across the fullntransverse Width `of the lip, producing thereby akcorrespon'ding curtain across the fullWidth of the'burner, even though the vessel pitches, rolls or moves in any Way Which would otherwise cause a disturbance of theoil fuel film. This invention further comprises the application to the inner surface of the burner casing top of a comb shaped device Which effectively stops any transcending rushes of oil across the filming surface, if such rushes occur. No difficulty attends the maintenance of the oil and atomizing fluid supplied to the burner, as the fuel is supplied through a flexible, metallic tube under gravity, and the atomiz'ing fluid is supplied through a similar pipe under presi sure to the burner when in use.

In the accompanying drawings forming a lll part hereof and illustrating the invention in the best mode nowlrnown to me,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved apparatus for atomizing and burningpfuel oil, containing the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a. vertical, central section through the burner, at line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a front end elevation of said burner.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central elevation at line 4.-*4 of Fig. 5 and shows the burner installed with automatic film levelling mechanism and regularizing devices mounted with its atomizing and flame effecting end in an opening in a boiler setting.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of what is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrative of the jet atomizing operation of my improved burner.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the burner casing, whichis generally indicated by A, Oomprises an upper, fuel oil receiving chamber 1 provided at its rear end with a fuel oil intake port 2. The bottom wall 3 of the chamber is corrugated at 4 and the front end 5 of the chamber is open, as shown, in my said patents. The open end of this oil receiving` chamber permits the same to be readily cleaned out. The bottom forming wall 8 terminates forwardly/in a transverse, dependent lip 6 over which the oil film formed on the wall 8 falls on or adjacent the intersections indicated by X of the converging jets indicatedby the dotted lines X.

In accordance with the present improvement, the under edge of the lip 6 is serrated or scalloped, forming a series of dependent lobes. The mid-length lobe is indicated by 7, adjacent each side oflobe 7 there being another lobe 8. Outwardly of each lobe 8, there is a further lobe 9 shown longer in this casev than lobe 7 angl at each end of the lip adjacent a lobe 9, there is a long lobe 10.

It has been found in practice that owing to the viscosity of fuel oil and its surface tension, the descending oil curtain formed when flowing over this lip and the lobes is maintained across the full width of the lip. The oil descends the lobes and thence drops *off establishing a film from lobe to lobe,

forming a continuous thin curtain across the burner front. With a straight edged lip, decrease of fuel supply converts the curtain into a relatively thick stream. The scalloped edged lip overcomes this objectionable behavior.

Said oil film forming and sustaining wall 3 forms a partition between the upper fuell oil receiving chamber 1, and on the under chamber 11 for reception of atomizing fluid from the intake 1Q therefor in the rear end of the casing. The casing is provided at its rear end with a port 13 for removal of condensations. The front wall 14 of chamber 11 has its outer surface transversely recessed at 15 between its under and upper ends and the lips 6, dependent from the front end of the wall 3, which forms a partition between the chambers 1 and 11, is spaced forwardly of the opposed portion of the front end walll 14 of the under chamber, forming a clear space 16 across the front end of the burner, whereby the oil film moving over the surface of the lip is practically prevented from reachingand crawling down the front end wall of chamber 11, and falls vertically as a thin curtain. Said front wall 14 at the upper portion of the transverse recess 15 is provided with a series of transversely alined jet orifices 17 which slant downwardly and the wall 14 is provided below the recess 15 with a series of corresponding but upwardly slanting` jet orifices 18. In practice there is one jet orifice 17 directly above a jet orifice 18. The jet orifices 17 and 18 are so inclined rearwardly, one to another, that the jets of atomizing fluid travel along the paths indicated by X and impinge at a point X just forwardly of or closely adjacent the vertical path of the oil curtain which falls continuously upon the jet impingements. By reason of their impingements, the velocity of the jets is slowed down, introducing a time element which allows for the thorough admixture of the fuel oil with the incoming oxygen for combustion or other gas. IIhe agitation or mixing action of the atomizing fluid, the fuel oil and oxygen is intense and a yvery thorough mixture of the constituents is obtained. The burners are installed withtheir front or delivery ends directed inwardly about the center of the flue, and when the mixture is ignited and burning, the flame is produced practically at the point where the air supplied by the draft provides the additional necessary oxygen for complete combustion.

The side walls of chamber 11, when the burner is made as a single casting, are preferably severally provided with openings filled by side plugs 19. The openings permit the chamber 11 of the initial casting to be readily cleaned out before the jet orifices are drilled. The upper wall of the casing is shown provided with transversely alined, upstanding plugs 20 which are useful in positioning the casing in an operating position.

The upper surface of the wall 3 is slightly inclined from the rear end of chamber 1 to the front open end 5 to facilitate outward flow of the fuel, the formation of which is assisted in respect to uniformity by the corrugations 4, as described in my said patents. The bottom wall of chamber 11 preferably slants from the front end of chamber 11 downwardly tothe waste or drip escape port 13.

In the front, normally open end of the` fuel oil receiving chamber l, according to a present feature of improvement, there is mounted, for some installations, a comb the back of which is indicated by 2l and which is secured to the upper Wall of chamber l; that is, of the casing, by screws 22. The back is provided `with a series of approximately parallel, dependent comb teeth 23 the under edges of which are alined and spaced, as shown, slightly above the upper, lihn forming surface of the bottom Wall rlhe space is indicated by 24. The comb back 22 and teeth 23 extend from near the front opening 5 for a substantial distance rearwardly; the front, lower corners of the comb teeth being slightly inwards of the junction of the lip t3 With the Wall 3. rThis comb by reason of the under edges of its teeth -3 dependent into the oil film avoids the surging of the oil across the burner when tilted and maintains the film thereby across the full length of the lip. The comb may be either a. detachable member of the burner as shown, or otherwise, as preferred. The comb is especially useful in maintaining the full width of the [ihn and consequently of the falling oil curtain in those installations of the burner wherein it is subjected to substantial pitching or rocking movements or heavy vibrations tending to disrupt the continuity of the oil film and curtain.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, I show the burner installed horizontally in an assumed marine, steam boiler installation. Herein the steam boiler setting is indicated by and an opening in the setting by 2G. An annular gasket or bearing 2T is provided, as usual, for the openino' 26 on the outward side of the setting. And to this annular bearing by means of screws 2?, there` is clamped, in vertical position, the annular flange 28"L of an annular ball-race, the front wall of which is annularly grooved at 29 for reception of anti-friction balls. The race- Way is formed on its front side With an annular flange 30 opposed to and spaced apart forwardly from the groove 29. A burner supporting casing 3l of so-called pill box form; that is, round in cross section and having an open inner end, is at its inner end pro ided with an encircling, projecting flange 30, the rear face of Which is provided with an annular groove 32 opposed to the groove 29. 'ilhe anti-friction balls are indicated by and mounted in the opposed annular grooves 29 and 32. The front Wall ot the burner supporting casing flange 32 is overlapped by the flange 80, of the ballrace. rilhe casing 3l is therefore rochable on its horizontal axis, the anti-friction balls and therewith contacting members standing vertically.

Said casing 3l is interiorly provided at its upper side with a therein fixed bracket 34 having dependent, spaced apart arms 34 the under ends of which are alined as shown, slightly above the horizontal axis of the casing. 'lhe under ends and spaced apart arms 34 carry opposed, horizontal pivot forming screws 85 each of Which engages the burner casing` A between its front and rear ends and between its top and bottom sides, at or closely adjacent the plane of the center of grzwity of the burner casing` which is thus sustained endwise tippably Within the casing 3l, which is r cliable on an at right angles to the lengthwise axes of the pivot forming screws 35. 'The under side of the casing l mid-Way between its sides, is formed with anca-r 3G to Which there is pivoted by a transverse pin 36, the upper end of a Weight carrying rod S7 provided at its lower end with a. weight 38. The axis of the pivot pin 36a is in the vertical plane of the axes of the pivot forming screws 35. The Weight tends to keep the burner casing A in its substantially horizontal position and to overcome any endivise tipping movements imparted to the burner casing A, by the action of gravity. The front end of the burner casing 3l is provided with folding' doors 39 each hinged at 40 to the Wall of the casing 31. The doors 39 are provided with complementary recesses 4l forming an opening in the closed covers 39 through Which the coupling 42 for the flexible fuel oil supply pipe 43 projects. The coupline` 42 is connected with the fuel oil intake port 2. A coupling 44 for the flexible supply pipe 45 of atomizing iiuid also projects through said opening formed when the doors are closed. .The coupling 44 is connected to the atomizing fluid intake port 12 of the burner. The Waste port 18 of the burner is connected with a Waste pipe 46 which also projects through said opening.

The mode of operation effected by the mounting of the burner A is that When a ship or vessel in which the burner is installed pitches or moves in one direction tending to move the burner A from its horizontal position, the burner is maintained automatically in a horizontal position due to gravity by the Weight 38 and When the ship or vessel is given a movement tending to rotate, or more specifically to rock, the burner supporting casing 81, this rocking is resisted or overcome automatically by the following' construct-ion. The under side of the burner supporting casing 3l is provided in the line of its vertical diameter With a dependent ear 47 to which, by a transverse, horizontal pivot pin 48 the upper end of a Weight carrying rod 49 is pivoted.4 The under, free end of the arm 49 is preferably threaded at 50 for reception of a thereon screwed Weight 51 which may be adjusted up and down on the rod 49. The vertically dependent Weight 5l tends to prevent,

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by force of gravity7 the burner leaving the plane or setting to which it is adjusted. Thus by cooperation or association or" the weight 38, which tends to keep the pivotally balanced burner casing A horizontal in its roclahle, carrying casing 3l, with the weight 5l., which tends to prevent the roeking movement of the casing 3l and restores the casing 3l to its proper position with the plug l? extending vertically downwards, maintenance or' the oil iilm in a horizontal condition and of the oil curtain transversely across the delivery or atomizing end of the burner, is largely and practically assured, notwithstanding the various pitching, rolling and other movements of the hulls of water-going craft and which movements are imparted to therein stationarily installed steam plants equipped with fuel oil burners.

vWhat I claim is: i

The combination of an atomizing fuel oil burner with a boiler setting having an opening' :tor the operating end of the burner; means for pivoting the burner in a horizontal position and automatically maintaining it in an approximately horizontal position against 'forces tending to move it trom its normal position; a rockable carrier to which said pivoting means are fixed; and means for automatically maintaining the roclahle carrier in position to keep the burner approximately horizontal; the burner being pivotally connected with said pivoting means at an angle to the axis of the rockable carrier.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 15th day of October A. D. 1924;.

ERNEST ANDREW REED. 

